An afterthought

Later

It’s Friday night and universities around the world are infused with the intoxicating scent of alcohol as it helps students do things they would never, under any other circumstances, do. Like the chap I saw walking into our main lobby wearing a fitted cherry-blossom pink dress, for an instance. The gathering I happened to be at this evening, a very lovely birthday party, was not without its alcoholic beverages but did boast more responsibility than other social events going on tonight. Still, I have to confess, I was not on top of my social game. Dowdy is the only word I can think of to describe the way I felt, from my flat Mary-Jane shoes to my teal-sweater.

Let me be clear, I have met terrifically wonderful people in St. Andrews. It wasn’t my new friends that made me feel drab but, rather, the environment. For as bold and self-assured as I like to think I am, in the bursting social scene I’m a bit of a wallflower. Whenever I begin to feel like I can’t hold my own, I know that I begin to clam-up. (Then again, that trait is probably more common than people like to admit.) This evening was not a total disaster, not in the least, but I hated being so self-conscious about my awkwardness. God must be teaching a lesson of humility. Thanks to Mom and Dad who encouraged me in living a full life and, most importantly, to my dear Heavenly Father who always offers grace.

So that’s it, me bearing the insecurities of my soul this evening. Tomorrow morning I will be as good as new, ready to take on the big, wide world – just not in a chic cocktail dress sipping sherry.